Tulsa American Film Festival to hosts premiere of documentary about Oklahoma boxer

by Clayton Youngman

The ESPN 30 for 30 film "Tommy" will premiere at Circle Cinema Tuesday. The documentary details the life, boxing career, HIV diagnosis and death of heavyweight Tommy Morrison. (KTUL)

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) —

The Tulsa American Film Festival will host the premiere of an ESPN documentary about an Oklahoma boxer tonight.

The ESPN 30 for 30 film "Tommy" will premiere at Circle Cinema Tuesday. The documentary details the life, boxing career, HIV diagnosis and death of heavyweight Tommy Morrison.

Morrison was raised in Jay but "spent significant time in Tulsa," according to the Tulsa American Film Festival. He starred in "Rocky V" early in his boxing career and later earned the WBO heavyweight title. He retired after testing positive for HIV in 1996. Morrison later dealt with drug problems and ended up in jail. He died when he was 44.

"Tulsa is a complicated place in Tommy Morrison's story,” said Gentry Kirby, the film's co-director. “The city drew great pride from a local boy who rose to the top of his profession, but it was also the place where he hit his lowest of lows."

The documentary airs at 7:30 p.m. at Circle Cinema. A reception will be held before the film begins.